UK Wedding Dress Price Guide

In the UK, there is a huge variety of wedding dresses available with prices starting from as little as £50 all the way up to £10,000 + (eek!) So before you begin shopping think about what elements are important to you, and how much of your budget you can afford to spend. Elements to consider are fabric, level of embellishment, and how important that designer label is to you. From ASOS to Jenny Packham, vintage to charity store, we've put together a simple guide of what's available and how much you can expect to pay for the dress of your choice. Purse strings at the ready..

Bridal Designers £900 - £3000

In most bridal boutiques around the UK you will find a range of fab bridal designer dresses at a varied price range. Designers you can expect to find are Augusta Jones, Pronovias, Jesus Peiro and Novia D'Art. The average price you can expect to pay for one of these dresses is about £1,500. Some will be more expensive, some cheaper. The price really does depend on the quality and detail of the design.

Couture Bridal Designer £1500 +

Higher end wedding dresses are generally found in specialist bridal boutiques or in bridal designers stand-alone stores. We love Bush Bridal in Surrey, The White Closet in Manchester and Browns in London where you'll find a host of dreamy couture gowns. These dresses are intricately designed with the highest quality fabrics and you can expect to pay upwards of £1,500.

Here is a handy price guide for some of the most popular couture designers out there:

Vera Wang: £4,000 to £18,000

Jenny Packham: £1800 +

Temperley: £3000 +

Claire Pettibone: £1600 +

Vintage £300 +

Vintage wedding dresses have been getting more and more popular and you will now find a huge range of dedicated vintage bridalwear boutiques across the UK. Depending on what you are looking for, the price will vary but you can expect to pay from £300 upwards. You may get lucky and find a gem for much less, or fall in love with a unique vintage design that costs that bit more. For cheaper options have a look in general vintage stores where you could strike gold.

Highstreet £80 +

If you are looking for a beautiful wedding dress but don't won't to go over budget, the highstreet is a great place to go. You can find great wedding dresses (both traditional and alternative) in many stores for as little as £80 up to £800. We'd recommend having a look in John Lewis, Ted Baker, Monsoon, Coast, BHS, Ghost, Phase Eight, and House Of Fraser.

Charity Shops £50 +

Barnardos and Oxfam both have a number of dedicated bridal shops across the UK with a great range of new and second-hand wedding dresses. You'll also find wedding dresses stocked in your regular charity shops - visit regularly to increase your chances of finding the One. The quality of secondhand wedding dresses has improved over the years so this option is well worth considering if you're on a tight budget.

Bridal Boutique Shopping Fees

There is a fee to go to some (usually higher end) bridal boutiques. Some will only charge this fee on the weekends, while others will charge 7 days a week.

On average you can expect to pay a £25 - £35 fee. The reason many boutiques charge this is to ensure you get a high quality service throughout your appointment, and to focus on brides who are committed to buying their dream dress.

It's important to note the fee is generally redeemable against any purchase, so do your research on boutiques and only pay a visit to those that you truly think fit your style and wedding day ethos. In the long run it will save you time, and will guarantee you get the very best shopping experience.

Alterations £40 +

Alterations are often a forgotten cost but they are important to budget for. Most minor alterations you can expect to pay £40 or so but if your dress requires more fundamental changes then you can pay anything up to £200.